This afternoon Bp Lawrence sent a letter to all active clergy in Diocese of SC. Some – if you read the liberal blogs - have been hyperventilating that there is “something afoot in SC.” Having come to know Bp Lawrence I’d not anticipated a rush to decision. Rather, as you will note, he wishes a robust and expansive conversation. Please pray for the clergy in the Diocese, as +Mark has noted, we are not used to engaging in public, robust and expansive conversation. Here are the highlights from the Bp’s letter:
• You will not be asked to make a decision or vote on any resolution at this meeting. This is not a legislative gathering, nor even primarily a meeting to vet resolutions.
• I envision our time together as an opportunity for me to lay out before the active clergy of the diocese the gravity, but by no means the totality, of the challenges that lie before us; and in that context sketch out in broad strokes, (as clearly as I am able to see, define, and articulate it) the direction I believe we are called to go in the weeks and months ahead. Flannery O’Connor once wrote in defense of the bizarre nature of her stories—that “To the hard of hearing you shout, to the almost-blind you draw large and startling figures.” I trust that you are neither.
• It is my hope, even expectation, that this will be a meeting that will initiate a more robust and expansive conversation within this diocese and, even more importantly, set out the principles that will enable us to begin a broader and more active engagement with the challenges we face.
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I’m getting tired of wait and see…
“The principles that will enable us to begin a broader and more active engagement with the challenges we face”…? Aren’t those “principles” already outlined in Scripture. There’s no nead to set them out. They are already written down for you. Snickers has more sensibility than this…
Hungry, why wait?
Greetings for Akron… I’m sure TEC has already engaged SC lawyers to begin the process of researching SC law. God bless you and the other fine folks in SC. Welcome to the ACNA.
Sounds like you’ll keep busy and engaged.
I’d like to borrow the term from Bp’s agenda
“Response and Respectful Conversation and Challenge”
If it were only that easy right? I wonder how long we have to intellectualize the gut level knowledge… we could circle for a long long time in the desert… lucky for us we have Clergy of the “GO” variety.
We can sit still and meditate while others are moving, or in the words of Ty Webb (Chevy Chase) Caddyshack, “In one physical model of the universe, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, in the opposite direction.”
Good thing we know the end of the story, God wins no matter what we think or do.
Fr. Steve, looks like you “hit the nail on the head.” NOTHING is going to come out of this clergy day. Let me do a little guessing: some kind of statement will be released by the bishop stopping short of any real action. “Honest” conversation will be hand in which everyone who knows where everyone else is on the issue will hear about it one more time (except this time directly rather than second hand or on blogs – like yours). The “diocese” will try to buy time hoping that with the passage of time people will forget the issues and life will return to normal as usual in South Carolina, with nothing done “at the national church level affecting us.” I know my priest is discouraged at the agenda, but he feels to vulnerable to say so.
Flannery O’Connor also once said: “Jesus done throwed ever’thing on it’s head”. We might have to pick up our cross and leave the premises.
Indaba anyone?
What really ticks me off is that Kendall+ made this big deal, twice, out of praying for the Standing Committee because major decisions were to be made. He went on to speak of the importance of this clergy day. Honestly, having read our Bishop’s letter today, it’s both a waste of time and a joke. I’ve never been more ready to leave than I am right now. If only someone will lead.
Rob,
I do not know you, but I did read your post entitled “Leading for Unity”. In this post you stated, “Our desire in presenting this is to facilitate a discussion on some very difficult matters. We also wish to form the discussion along certain lines that we do not believe have played a significant enough role in the corporate discernment of the Diocese. We wish to form this discussion first and foremost not in terms of any one theological tradition, but rather we wish to center this discussion within the confines of the Biblical witness of the church in the New Testament.”
Now it seems to that your “Indaba anyone?” comment regarding a clergy day that is designed at least in part to be about conversation is either simply an off-hand attempt at humor that admittedly I don’t find helpful or you really don’t want to facilitate a discussion per your paper.
Chad,
Perhaps the Revs Sturdy and Boyd are frustrated at the over-sell under-deliver nature of the clergy day. I noted above that Kendall+ has spoken in solemn and almost reverential tone with regard to the leadership meetings in this diocese. Then, the letter begins by telling us we will do nothing but talk – oh brother. It is Indaba – and Ubuntu. I dread attending. More talk. No action. It will all go away. SC is fine. Godly bishop. Evangelical clergy. Differentiation but no separation. Maybe a strongly worded statement. Yada, yada, yada. And then, the clergy who just may say, “we have a problem” will themselves become the problem – a threat to unity, a unity which does not exist in reality.
I will pray for our Bishop. He has a mess on his hands and he is a good and godly man. But I see no way to hold this diocese together. If we try to leave, some parishes, clergy and laity will stay. If we stay, some parishes, clergy and laity will leave. I think the best case scenario is to act according to conscience and come to negotiated settlements with parishes on all sides of the issue.
SC Priest,
You speak as if you already know what the Bishop is going to say and do.
Joe, I speak as a tenured priest in this Diocese.
I speak also as a priest whose Dean, having met with the Bishop, other Deans and Standing Committee, told him the following:
+Mark will announce he is not going to attend future House of Bishops meetings.
That the DioSC will not participate in future Province IV meetings.
That we might look at changes in the canons regarding ordination.
That there is unrest among clergy, some of whom are thinking about renouncing their orders.
That we will pursue a course that neither embraces or, maybe a better word is join/affiliate, ACNA or Communion Partners.
All in all, makes for lively conversation, but not very risky, bold or courageous.
I hope, though, that I will be surprised.
But I doubt it.
It seems that according to the letter the clergy meeting will set the stage for future action. There is wisdom in getting all the clergy on the same page regarding the gravity of the situation before rushing into a decision or a clergy vote. The letter clearly implies that this is needed, hence the O’Connor quote.
Joe and Chad,
Looks like I had accurate information from my Dean on the outcome of the day. Disappointing outcome personally speaking.
Encouraging? Seeing the good Bishop and Fr. Steve shaking hands at the end of the day. I don’t know what they said to each other, but they were not engaged in an, apparently, unpleasant conversation. Both smiling, a laugh or two and then the friendly departure.
Chad,
You’re right. My sarcasm wasn’t helpful I repent. Please pray that it will not color any future exchanges on my behalf.
If you think the statement made by +Lawrence is weak and more timid talk, you failed to read it…or failed to understand it. I will offer you the benefit of the doubt and assume that it is stubbornness and not ignorance which is blinding you.
God has appointed and we have elected a godly, wise and bold bishop- calling us to face the battle lines in the name of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God give us strength to face the war ahead.
Jennifer,
A little hostile and defensive. So, let me begin by saying:
I’ve never doubted, or questioned, the godliness or wisdom of our Bishop. In fact, perusing my postings, here and elsewhere, I’ve often referred to him as, our “good Bishop.”
Secondly, I voted for him. I trusted that his age and experience in small to mid size churches would serve this Diocese better than other options offered at the time (sorry Fr. Steve).
Third, while it has been some time since I’ve been to seminary I may have lost the ability to read and understand such a straightforward and clear document, I do thank for you for your incisive summary.
Having said the above, our Bishop, who used strong words, eloquent words, clever words and many words to say, “we’re staying.” Plain and simple.
I will stay. I am within a few years of retirement. I will take the first opportunity to retire. I will pastor my congregation faithfully and help them find a new pastor who will succeed me and continue to love them.
Lastly, may I suggest to you that you read the Anglican Curmudgeon’s (accurmudgeon.blogspot.com) analysis of our good Bishop’s words. He, rightly praises the tone and tenor of the presentation. He also, importantly, notes:
“I do not claim to be privy to South Carolina’s intentions and strategies, but like the next Episcopalian, I can read Bishop Lawrence’s statement in context. Had he meant to propose a resolution to withdraw from ECUSA, he could have said so; but he did not. He spoke of beginning to withdraw from “all bodies of governance of TEC” which have assented to actions contrary to Scripture, to the doctrine, discipline and worship of Christ as received by the Church, to the resolutions of Lambeth expressing the mind of the Communion, and to the Constitutions and Canons of ECUSA — a comprehensive list. Then he stated “This is not a flight into isolation, nor . . . an abandonment of duty . . .”.
There is no one at ECUSA, as I stated, who can compel the Diocese of South Carolina to send deputies to the next General Convention in 2012. By not sending a deputation, and by Bishop Lawrence staying away from the House of Bishops himself, the Diocese could in effect withdraw from General Convention without withdrawing formally from ECUSA. They could wait until 2012 before making any decision, and keep their options open until then.”
So, Jennifer, again, thank you for your comments. I humbly submit my inadequate, old and feeble understanding to your vigorous clarity and I appreciate the charity with which you’ve engaged me.
Yours,
PerSud
I apologize for my perhaps miffed tone, and uncharitable spirit. I am troubled when I see such criticism in our own Diocese. I want to see the diocese as a unified body looking to our leadership under the authority of Jesus Christ. And yet, my own comment on here was written in an uncharitable spirit. I apologize and appreciate your reply. I do perceive that +Lawrence is doing more than just staying and withdrawing involvement in HOB and GC 2012. I have been a member of this diocese for many years now and have also found myself growing impatient for action (more specifically, leaving The Episcopal Church)- but upon reading +Lawrence’s address I found it to be a declaration of war on TEC. It is their actions which are in violation of their own canons and more importantly un-scriptural. Why should we abandon our church and so many in it who are looking to us for hope when they are the invaders? I don’t assume to have understood all that the Bishop said in his address but I did see strong action and declaration- certainly not lack of delivery. What is TEC going to do with this one? They’ve never dealt with this approach. Lord help us!
….
Rob,
I deeply respect and appreciate your response to my post. Indeed we all need such prayer, and thankfully we have a Lord whose power working in us is able to do in us more than we can ask or imagine.
You and all the clergy of the diocese of SC will continue to be in my prayers.
I might also add that having read your article and listened to at least one of your sermons (“Jesus is a true friend” has stuck with me) it is obvious that God has given you tremendous gifts.
In Him,
Chad